Question

Who was Baba Ramchandra? What role did he play in Awadh during the non-cooperation movement?

Answer 1

Baba Ramchandra fought against the injustices meted out by landlords in the 1920s and 1930s. As an indentured labourer, Baba Ramchandra had been to Fiji, an island nation in the Pacific. In India, the Non-Cooperation movement spread from cities to the countryside. The struggles of Tribals and Peasants were drawn into the fold of the Non-cooperation movement.

Causes of Peasant Movement – Led by Baba Ramchandra

• Peasants were forced to work on the Landlord’s farm without any payment. This forced contribution without any payment was known as Begar.
• Landlords and Talukdars used to demand high rents and other cesses from the peasants.
• As peasants had no right over the leased land, they did not have the security of tenure, they were frequently evicted.

Peasant Movement Led by Baba Ramchandra

• Baba Ramchandra led the peasant movement in Awadh.
• The peasant movement demanded to socially boycott oppressive landlords, demanded to abolish begar, and demanded a reduction of revenue.
• In many places to deprive the services of even washermen and barbers to the landlords, the nai-dobi bandhs were organized by the Panchayats.
• In June 1920, Jawaharlal Nehru tried to understand the grievances of the villagers in Awadh by talking to them.
• As a result of this, a new sabha was set up headed by Baba Ramchandra, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others. This new sabha was known as the Oudh Kisan Sabha and it was set up in October 1920.
• In the region, within a month, more than 300 branches of the Sabha were set up.
• As the movement spread grain hoards were taken over, bazaars were looted, and merchants' and talukdar's houses were looted.